Where Were You 16 Years Ago, When Joe Carter Made History?

Today is a very special day—it's an occasion so momentous that it should almost be declared a national holiday in Canada.

It was this very day 16 years ago that Joe Carter solidified himself as one of the greatest Blue Jays of all time by taking a Mitch Williams pitch deep to ensure the World Series trophy would remain in Canada.

Fly-by-night and casual fans talk about how they remember the good old days when the Blue Jays used to rule the American League East and how Carter was their favourite baseball player. As a kid, Carter was my favourite Blue Jay years before he ever even stepped in the batter's box on Oct. 23 1993 against Williams.

After that night, nothing was the same ever again. Carter was everybody's new favourite Blue Jay player and suddenly I was lost in the sea of thousands and thousands of self-proclaimed Blue Jays fans and Carter adorers. I know now that it was selfish of me to think that Carter could only be MY favourite player and nobody else's.

Prior to the Philadelphia Phillies World Series win last year, the memories of Williams nearly tumbling off the mound have been ingrained in their minds for years and years. Now they are hoping to win back to back World Series, just as the Blue Jays did 15 years ago.

So what about you—where were you 16 years ago when the Blue Jays won their second straight World Series? I as a snotty-faced 9-year-old kid was absolutely ecstatic and jumping on my parent's couch when the ball sailed over the left field fence. It happened so quick, I almost couldn't believe it.

Ever since then, I will never forget what happened on Oct. 23, 1993—and neither should you.